How to use not only but in a sentence: a clear example from Lisa's museum visit

Here’s a little grammar compass you can keep handy when you’re polishing sentences for the PACT Writing Test. The focus today is a tiny pair of words that can make a big difference: not only... but also. When used well, this correlative construction can add balance, emphasis, and a clean sense of progression to your writing. When misused, it can trip you up and create awkwardness or confusion. Let me explain with a story you’ve probably heard in a dozen classrooms: Lisa’s visit to a science museum.

Not only what, but also how it works

The phrase not only introduces the first element, and but also travels along to add a second element. The two parts should feel parallel—like two tracks on the same railway line that run in harmony. Think of it as a built-in rhythm that helps your reader follow a comparison or a connection without stumbling.

In everyday speech, this construction feels natural. In formal writing, it signals that you’re weighing two related ideas or experiences together. On the PACT Writing Test, using this structure well can showcase your control of syntax and your ability to present ideas with clarity and balance. So, when you see not only, you should also look for the companion “but” and a parallel structure that clearly links the two parts.

Why option B works (and the others don’t)

Let’s pretend you’re choosing the right sentence in a quick grammar quiz. Here are the options you gave, with a plain, reader-friendly read of why only one makes the cut:

A. Lisa enjoyed not only the solar system and exhibits

• What’s off here is the flow. After not only, the sentence should present two things in a parallel way. This option muddles the second part, “the solar system and exhibits,” which isn’t clearly tied to a second, separate item. The rhythm stops short, and the reader has to pause to figure out what’s being compared or added.

B. Lisa went to see not only the dinosaur exhibit but the solar system

• This one nails the parallel structure. The first item is “the dinosaur exhibit,” and the second item is “the solar system.” The phrase not only sets up a pair, and but also would connect a second element naturally—if we add it. In many clean takes, the classic form reads “not only the dinosaur exhibit but also the solar system.” Here, you have a crisp, balanced comparison of two experiences Lisa had on her trip.

C. Lisa was able to see not only but the solar and plant exhibits

• The placement of not only is awkward. The reader expects a concrete first item after not only, but this option stops there and leaves a trailing fragment. The phrase “not only but the solar” breaks the parallel pattern and creates confusion—exactly what we want to avoid.

D. Lisa's trip included not only the science museum

• This ends too soon. Not only introduces a list that never gets completed. The sentence feels incomplete, like a setup that never delivers the second half. A well-made not only sentence should propel the reader forward with a clear second element.

So, why does B (with the implied but also) stand out? It signals that Lisa did more than one thing—she visited multiple exhibits. The correlative pair is clean, explicit, and easy to parse. It’s precise, which matters a lot in the PACT Writing Test because readers (including graders) should be able to follow your logic without backtracking.

A quick note on the “but also” finish

In ordinary usage, you often see the full pair written as not only the dinosaur exhibit but also the solar system. The “but also” can sit right there, linking the two items in a tidy, parallel structure. In graded writing, the symmetry of the two parts helps demonstrate your command of sentence construction, your sense of rhythm, and your ability to present related ideas without getting sloppy.

A short, practical guide to using not only

Here’s a compact checklist you can use any time you’re writing:

• Identify two related elements you want to connect. They should be of similar weight or importance.

• Place the first element immediately after not only. The second element should come after but also (or simply after but) so that the reader sees a clear, balanced pair.

• Keep the parallel structure. If the first item is a noun phrase (the dinosaur exhibit), the second should be the same type of phrase (the solar system exhibit).

• Ensure the second part adds something meaningful, not merely repeats or tacks on extra words. The second item should extend the idea, not distract from it.

• Read aloud. If the sentence sounds off or lurches, it’s a sign the structure isn’t balanced.

Tiny digressions—where this shows up in real-life writing

Not only... but also pops up in emails, reports, and even social-media captions when you want to highlight two linked actions or experiences. It’s a handy tool for drawing a line between what happened and what followed, or between one choice and another. For students, this is particularly useful when you’re comparing options, weighing evidence, or painting a vivid scene with two clear focal points.

A couple of practice sentences you can mentally check

• Not only did Mia finish the sprint, but she also set a new personal best.

• Not only the main hall but the accompanying gallery impressed visitors that day.

• Not only reading the map helped us, but following the signs really kept us on track.

When you test these in your own writing, you’ll notice that the best versions feel effortless. The sentence carries you forward, and the logic is obvious without being shouted.

Common pitfalls to avoid (without getting overly picky)

• Missing the second element after not only. Always complete the pattern with a clear second item.

• Uneven weight. If the first item is long and the second is short (or vice versa), the rhythm buckles. Aim for similar complexity.

• Mixing tenses or voices between the two parts. Keep them aligned so the sentence doesn’t wobble.

• Using not only as a mere emphasis tool when you really mean a simple list. It’s powerful when it signals two connected experiences; using it for a token emphasis can feel forced.

A quick framework you can apply to any sentence

• Step 1: Decide two related elements you want to connect.

• Step 2: Start with not only the first element.

• Step 3: Add but also the second element with parallel structure.

• Step 4: Read aloud. If something sounds off, tweak the wording so the two parts line up.

Why this matters for the PACT Writing Test (and beyond)

Clarity is the backbone of good writing. When you use not only... but also correctly, you’re showing you can build a clear, balanced sentence with a natural cadence. It helps your readers (or graders) quickly grasp what you’re saying, which is exactly what the test—and strong writing in general—asks for. It’s less about a single clever trick and more about a disciplined habit: make your two ideas work in tandem, not at odds.

A few more examples with a playful twist

• Not only did the field trip cover the solar system, but the kids also explored the life of early astronomers.

• Not only was the lab tour informative, but the hands-on demonstrations made the science feel personal.

• Not only the dinosaur exhibit but the planetarium show rounded out Lisa’s day at the museum.

Putting it all together

If you’re on the hunt for sentences that feel confident and natural, not only... but also is a reliable companion. It helps you map a simple, effective structure for two linked ideas, and it gives your prose a gentle, steady rhythm readers can ride along with. The key is to keep the two parts balanced, clear, and parallel.

Final thought: a tiny grammar rule with big reach

Think of not only as a bridge that invites your reader to cross from one idea to a second, equally important one. If the two sides aren’t balanced, the bridge wobbles, and nobody wants to cross a wobbly bridge. When you land on a clean, parallel construction like Lisa went to see not only the dinosaur exhibit but the solar system, you’re signaling to your reader that your thinking is precise, your writing is controlled, and your storytelling is steady.

If you’re shaping your next piece for the PACT Writing Task, keep this little rule in your pocket. Not only will your sentences feel more confident, but your entire paragraph will hum with an easy, natural rhythm. And that, more than anything, makes your writing memorable.